Kelly cock seal



Dec. 5, 1961 1. MILLER 3,011,757

KELLY COCK SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

Filed Oct. 25, 1958 MN MILLER,

INVENTOR.

W/llM/IV 8 Me MIN/GAL all/nun I I a liken) Dec. 5, 1961 l. MILLER I 3,011,757

.KELLY COCK SEAL Filed Oct. 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IVAN MILL ER;

INVENT OR. WHANN 8' McMAN/GAL Ail/oral for l I/canf. W

United States Patent 3,011,757 KELLY COCK SEAL Ivan Miller, Fullerton, Calif., assignor to Shatter Tool Works, Brea, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 769,105 9 Claims. (Cl. 251--172) This invention relates generally to oil well drilling equipment and relates more particularly to kelly cocks.

While the invention has utility in connection with kelly cocks for deep well operations, and is described herein in connection therewith, it is understood that its utility is not limited thereto.

These kelly cocks require rugged construction and the casing portion thereof must be extra thick to sustain the great load of a string of heavy drill pipe and attached tools. Also, the operative valve closure turning in the casing must be effectively packed to withstand high fluid pressures both from above and from below.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide easily insertable packer units for kelly cocks, said units being arranged in the valve casing at diametrically opposite sides of the rotary closure or plug.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packer unit the ends of which are adapted to efiectively seat and seal on respective, contiguous areas of the plug and of the casing in which the unit is installed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a packer unit of this character the ends of which will be urged into sealing engagement with said contiguous areas of the plug and of the casing in accordance with the fluid pressure within said unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packer unit of this character of relatively few parts and of simple construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is highly eflicient and effective in providing the required sealing means for the kelly cock rotary closure or plug. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is relatively simple to manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that may be manufactured at relatively low cost.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufliciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent one embodiment. After considering diis example, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of opera tion that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a kelly cock embodying the present invention and showing the rotary closure or plug in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in longitudinal section as seen from right angles to the view in FIG. 1 and showing the closure or plug in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the packer or sealing unit;

FIG. 4 is a reduced end view of the same; and

FIG. 5 is a reduced side elevation of the central portion of the kelly cock, as viewed from line 55 of FIG. 1, showing the socket for an actuating tool.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the structure includes a body, indicated generally at 10, having an enlarged central or intermediate portion 12 from which there extends upwardly a cylindrical part 14 provided with the usual upwardly flaring internally threaded box 15 r of the usual character for threadable connection to a kelly bar or other fitting, not shown. There is also a short depending, cylindrical part 16 at the opposite side of the intermediate portion 12 and a tapered, externally threaded pin 17 depends from the part 16, said pin being of the usual character for connection to an adjacent part of a drill string or the like.

Within the body there is an axial flow passage 18 extending from the inner end of the box to the lower or free end of the pin 17, there being an enlarged cylindrical portion 20 of said passage 18 disposed within the enlarged intermediate portion 12 of the body. There is also a transverse cylindrical bore 22 in the intermediate portion of the body, the axis of said transverse bore intersecting the axis of the axial passage 18 and the enlarged portion 20 thereof. The transverse bore 22 is open at one side and an end portion thereof is internally threaded as at 23. The bore 22 extends to an end wall 24 at the opposite side of the enlarged passage portion 20 and from said wall 24 there extends axially outwardly of the bore 22 a reduced diameter bore 25 having a counterbore 26 at the outer end.

Vithin the transverse bore 22 is rotatably disposed a closure or plug, indicated generally at 27. Plug 27 includes a cylindrical body portion 28 having a reduced diameter portion 29 which extends from the end of the body 28 at the open end of the transverse bore 22. The opposite end of the body 28 engages the shoulder 24 and the rotary plug 27 is retained in the transverse bore 22 by means of an annular cap 30 having external threads threadably engageable with the internal threads at the adjacent end of the bore 22. Cap 30 has an axial opening 33 therethrough for snug reception of the reduced diameter portion 29 of the plug and the inner end of said cap engages an annular shoulder 34 at the junction of the reduced diameter portion 29 with the body 28 of said plug when said cap is screwed into position in said transverse bore 22. Cap 30 has a plurality of recesses 35 of well-known character in the outer side thereof for reception of a tool, not shown, whereby said cap may be rotated into or out of the transverse bore 22. Cap 30 also has a radially extending annular flange 36 at the outer end, the inner side of said flange engaging a corresponding annular surface 38 about the outer end of the transverse bore 22. A set screw 39 threadably received in a tapped bore provided therefor in the body 10 has an end portion which is received in a notch 40 provided for this purpose in the peripheral edge of the flange 36 to thereby secure said cap in position when the latter is screwed into the bore 22. A seal, such as an O-ring 41, is disposed in an inner peripheral groove provided therefor at the inner end of the cap 30 to provide a seal between said cap and the adjacent portions of the plug 28 and the inner surface of the bore 22. A seal 43 is also provided in an annular groove formed in a surface 38 to provide a seal with the inner surface of said flange. The body 28 is provided with an annular external groove 44 for reception of a seal, such as an O-ring 45, to provide a seal between said plug and the adjacent surface of the transverse bore 22 at one side of the enlarged bore or passage portion 20.

The plug 27 has a diametrical flow passage 48 in the body 28 which is of substantially the same diameter as the passage 18 and at the end of the body 28 opposite the end having the reduced diameter portion 29 there is a reduced diameter portion 50 which extends axially outwardly of the body 28 and is operably received in the bore 25. The extension 50 is provided with an outwardly opening axial, tool receiving recess 52 which includes a central portion 53 and radially extending portions 54.

Within the counterbore 26 there is a stop ring 55 which is welded or otherwise secured in said counterbore, as best shown in FIG. 1. Ring 55 has an inwardly extending flange 56 at one side which has end shoulders 57 and 58 which are engageable by respective ends 59 and 60 of an axially extending arcuate flange 61 at the outer end of the extension 50. The flanges 56 and 61 are so arranged that when the end 59 of flange 61 engages the end 57 of flange 56 the plug flow passage 48 is in axial alignment with the passage '18 so that fluid may flow through the kelly cock. When the plug 27 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, from the open position so that the end 6% of flange 61 engages the end 58 of flange 56, the passage 48 is at rightangles to the axis of the passage 18 so that flow through the kelly cock i completely shut off, the passage 48 then being in the position shown in FIG. 2. A seal, shown as an O ring 64 in FIG. 1, is operably received'in a groove provided therefor in the wall of the transverse bore 22 to provide a seal with the adjacent surface of the plug body 28.

There is an enlarged passage portion 26 at diametrically opposite sides of-the plug 27 and in each of said portions 20 there i operably disposed a packing unit or insert seal, indicated generally at 66. As each of the packing units 66 are of the same construction, a description of one will suflice.

The packing unit comprises a tubular sleeve 70 of resilient material such as, for example, a synthetic rubber which is resistant to the action of various fluids with which the sleeve may come into contact. Neoprene, or the like, is one synthetic material that may be used, there also being other well-known, suitable materials available, Sleeve 70 includes an annular, outwardly extending flange 71 intermediate the ends thereof, said flange being of substantial thickness and length. At the inner end of the flange 71 there is disposed on the sleeve 70 a metal ring 72 of any suitable material such as, for example, bronZe-or the ilke. The outer end 73 of the ring 72 abuts against the inner end 74 of the flange 71, said ring 72 being bonded by any well-known means to the adjacent portion of the sleeve 70 and the flange 71. Adjacent the outer end of the ring 72 is an external annular groove 75 for reception of a suitable seal 76 of any wellknown type and material such as neoprene or the like. The inner end of the ring 72 i shaped to conform to the surface of the plug body 29 with which the backing unit is to form an operative seal. This inner end of the ring .72 is also provided along its entire extent with a recess or groove 77 of substantial longitudinal depth and which is provided with a seal 78 of any suitable material that is resistant to the action of fluid or other materials with which it may come into contact. This seal is, however, sufiiciently hard so as to readily pass over the end openings of the passage 48 in the plug when the latter is actuated. As in the case of the sleeve 70, a suitable synthetic rubber, such as neoprene, for example, has been found to be satisfactory. Seal 78 is also bonded to the adjacent end surfaces of the ring 72 and the walls of the recess or groove 77 by suitable well-known means. It will be noted that the entire inner end surface of the ring 72 is protected by the seal 78 so that there is no metal to metal contact between the ring 72 and the plug. Also, it will be noted that the inner end of the sleeve 70 is also in the plane 'of the outer surface of the seal 78 so as to 'sealingly engage said plug.

At the outer 'end of the sleeve 70 there is an external ring 80 of any suitable material, such as bronze, or the like. The interior surface of the ring 89 is in contact with the adjacent exterior surface of the sleeve 7 t and the inner end 81 of said ring abuts against the outer end 82 of the flange 71. The surfaces of the ring 80, in contact with the adjacent portions of the sleeve 70 and its flange 71, are bonded thereto by any suitable well-known means. An external annular groove 33 is provided at the outer free corner or end portion of this ring for reception of a suitable seal 84 which maybe an O-ring or the like.

4 The external cylindrical surfaces of the flange 71 and rings 72 and 80 are normally in the same cylindrical plane.

When the packing units 66 are operatively disposed in the cylindrical passage parts 20, said units are under longitudinal compression so that the inner ends thereof form a tight seal against the plug even when there is little or no pressure within said units. In order to provide this precompression the units are made somewhat larger than the passage parts 26 into which said units are inserted. After the units are inserted into said passage portions 20 the plug is forced into the bore 22. It will be' noted that the end of the body 28 of the plug 27, which is disposed at the closed end of the bore 22, is tapered axially, inwardly at 86, FIG. 1, so that the inserted end will pass between the adjacent ends of the packing units and as the plug is forced inwardly, said packing units will be compressed. When under compression the portion of the sleeve 70 at the inner side of the flange 71 will be bulged inwardly as at 88, the external surface of the flange 71 being accordingly pressed against the adjacent surface of the passage portions 20, but, of course, will not bulge outwardly because of the engagement with said passage portions 26.

As the sleeve 70, including its flange 711, is made of relatively soft rubber, it acts as a compression spring at low or no pressures. When there is fluid pressure within the packing units, or either of them, this pressure compresses the sleeve 70 and flange 71 thereof against the adjacent inner surface of the passage portions 20, the greater the fluid pressure the tighter the sealing pressure of the flanges 71 against the adjacent passage wall portions. This pressure and compression of the sleeves and flanges 71 thereof, also causes a longitudinal pressure to be exerted by the flanges, tending to force the rings 72 .and longitudinally apart. As the outer ends of the rings 80 are in abutment with the outer ends of the passage parts 29 the rings 72 are urged toward the plug in accordance with the pressure within the unit to thereby increase the sealing force of the inner ends of the packing units on the plug. 7

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention and the method of operation thereof without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodiment hereinbefore described being merely by way of illustration.

I claim:

1. A kelly cock, comprising: a casing having a flow passage therethrough including a plug receiving part and a packing receiving portion extending axially of the passage from said part, said portion having a shoulder at its outer end; a closure plug operably disposed in said plug receiving part for controlling flow through said passage; a packing unit in said portion, said packing unit comprising a resilient cylindrical sleeve of synthetic rubher; a radially extending external flange formed integrally with said sleeve and positioned intermediate the ends thereof, the outer end of said flange being in spaced relation to the outer end of said sleeve but adjacent thereto; an inner metal ring on the inner end portion of said'sleeve, the ring being of substantially the same thickness as the thickness of said flange with the outer end of said ring abutting the-inner end of the flange, the ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of thesleeve and.flange,.said ring having a recess in the inner end thereof and an annular external groove adjacent the outer end; a .seal of relavtively hard synthetic rubber bonded in saidrecess and to the adjacent edge portion of the inner end of said ring, the inner ends of said ring, sleeve andseal .being shaped to conform to the external surface of the plug against 'which the inner ends of .said sleeve .and seal .sealingly engage; and a second metal ring of substantially the same thickness as the thickness of said flange and disposed on the outer end portion of the sleeve, the inner end of said second ring being in abutment with the outer end of said flange while the outer end terminates in the same .plane as the outer end of said sleeve, said second ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of said sleeve and flange, said second ring having an external groove at the outer external corner thereof; and seals in said grooves in the inner ring and outer ring to provide sealing engagement with adjacent parts of said packing receiving portion, said packing unit being disposed in said packing receiving passage portion under compression so that an annular inner portion of the sleeve opposite the flange bulges inwardly and is adapted to be urged outwardly by pressure within said unit.

2. A kelly cock, comprising: a casing having a flow passage therethrough including a plug receiving part and a packing receiving portion extending axially of the passage from said part, said portion having a shoulder at its outer end; a closure plug operably received in said plug receiving part for controlling flow through said passage; a packing unit in said portion, said packing unit comprising a resilient cylindrical sleeve; a radially extending external fiangejformed integrally of said sleeve and positioned intermediate the ends thereof, the outer end of said flange being in spaced relation'to the outer end of said sleeve but adjacent thereto; an inner ring on the inner end portion of saidsleeve, the ring being of substantially the same-thickness as the thickness of said flange with the outer end of said ring abutting the inner end of the flange, the inner end of saidring being shaped to conform to the external surface of the plug against which said inner end of the packing unit sealingly engages, the ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of the sleeve and flange; a seal of relatively hard synthetic rubber bonded to the inner end of said ring, said seal and the inner end of said sleeve engaging said plug; and a second ring disposed on the outer end portion of the sleeve, the inner end of said second ring being in abutment with the outer end of said flange, said second ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of said sleeve and flange; and sealing means providing a seal between said unit and adjacent parts of the passage portion, said packing unit being disposed in said passage portion under compression so that the inner portion of the sleeve opposite the flange bulges inwardly and is adapted to be pressed outwardly by pressure within said unit.

3. In a kelly cock: a casing having a flow passage therethrough including a plug receiving part and a packing receiving portion extending axially of the passage from said part, said portion having a shoulder at its outer end; a closure plug operably received in said plug receiving part for controlling flow through said passage; a packing unit in said portion, said packing unit comprising a cylindrical sleeve of resilient material; a radially extending xternal flange formed integrally of said sleeve and positioned intermediate the ends thereof; an inner ring on the inner end portion of said sleeve, the outer end of said ring abutting the inner end of the flange, the inner end of said ring being shaped to conform to the external surface of the plug, the ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of the sleeve and flange, said ring having a recess in the inner end thereof; a seal of relatively hard synthetic rubber bonded to the inner end of said ring; and a second ring disposed on the outer end portion of the sleeve, the inner end of said second ring being in abutment with the outer end of said flange, said second ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of said sleeve and flange, said packing unit being disposed in said passage portion under compression so that the inner portion of the sleeve opposite the flange bulges inwardly and is adapted to be pressed outwardly by pressure within said unit and to cause longitudinal expansion of said packing unit.

4. In a kelly cock: a casing having a flow passage therethrough including a plug receiving part, and packing receiving portions extending axially of the passage and at opposite'sides of said part, each of said portions having a shoulder at its outer end; a closure plug operably received in said plug receiving part for controlling flow through said passage; a packing unit in each of said portions, said packing units each comprising a cylindrical sleeve of resilient material; a radially extending external flange formed integrally of said sleeve and positioned intermediate the ends thereof; an inner ring secured on the inner end portions of said sleeve, the outer end of said ring abutting the inner end of the flange and the inner end conforming to the shape of the plug; a seal of relatively hard sealing material secured to the inner end of said ring; and a second ring secured on the outer end portion of the sleeve, the inner end of said second ring being in abutment with the outer end of said flange, said packing unit being disposed in said passage portion under compression so that the inner portion of the sleeve opposite the flange is adapted to be urged outwardly by pressure with in said unit.

5. In a kelly cock: a casing having a flow passage therethrough including a plug receiving part, and packing receiving portion extending axially of the passage, said portion having ashou'ld er at its outer end; a closure plug operably received in said plug receiving part for controlling flow through said passage; a packing unit in said portion, said packing unit comprising a cylindrical sleeve of resilient material; an external flange formed integrally of said sleeve and positioned intermediate the ends thereof; an inner ring secured on the inner end portion of said sleeve, the outer end of said ring abutting the inner end of the flange and the inner end conforming to the shape of the plug; a seal of relatively hard sealing material secured to the inner end of said ring; and a second ring secured on the outer end portion of the sleeve, the inner end of said second ring being in abutment with the outer end of said flange, said packing unit being disposed in said passage portion under compression so that the inner portion of the sleeve opposite the flange is adapted to be urged outwardly by pressure within said unit.

6. A packing unit for a kelly cock having a flow passage and a closure plug for controlling flow through said passage, said pack unit being adapted to be inserted in said passage under compression and in sealing engagement with the walls of said passage, comprising: a resilient cylindrical sleeve; a resilient, radially extending part on the exterior of said sleeve and positioned intermediate the ends thereof; an inner ring secured on the inner end portion of said sleeve, the ring being of substantially the same thickness as the thickness of said part with the outer end of said ring abutting the inner end of the part, said ring having a recess in the inner end thereof; a seal of relatively hard material secured in said recess and to the adjacent edge portions of the inner end of said ring, the inner ends of said ring, sleeve and seal being shaped to conform to the external surface of a plug against which the inner ends of said sleeve and seal are adapted to sealingly engage; and a second ring of substantially the same thickness as the thickness of said part and secured on the outer end portion of the sleeve, the inner end of said second ring being in abutment with the outer end of said part while the outer end terminates in the same plane as the outer end of said sleeve.

7. In a kelly cock: a casing having a flow passage therethrough including a plug receiving part, and packing receiving portion extending axially of the passage, said portion having a shoulder at its outer end; a closure plug operably received in said plug receiving part for controlling flow through said passage; a cylindrical packing unit in said portion, comprising a cylindrical sleeve of resilient material; an inner ring secured on the inner end portion of said sleeve, the inner end of said ring conforming to the shape of the plug; an outer ring secured on the outer end portion of the sleeve and spaced longitudinally from the first ring; and a body of resilient material filling the space between the inner and outer rings, the external surface of said unit normally being in substantially the same cylindrical plane throughout its length.

8. In a packing unit for a kelly cock having a casing with a flow passage therethrough including a plug receiving part, and packing receiving portion extending axially V of the passage, said portion having a shoulder at its outer end; a packing unit in said portion, the external surface of said packing unit being normally in substantially the same cylindrical plane throughout the length of said unit, said unit comprising a cylindrical sleeve of resilient material; an inner ring secured on the inner end portion of said sleeve, the inner end of said ring conforming to the shape of a plug against which said inner end of said ring is adapted to abut; an outer ring secured on the outer end portion of the sleeve and spaced longitudinally from the first ring; and a body of resilient material filling the space between the inner and outer rings, said. body of resilient material being adapted to be compressed by longitudinal pressure on said unit and being adapted to be urged radiallyoutwardly by fluid pressure in integrally with said-sleeve and positioned intermediate the ends thereof, the outer end of said flange being in spaced relation to the outer end of said sleeve but adjacent thereto; an inner metal ring on the inner end portion of said sleeve, the ring being of substantially the same thickness as the thickness of said flange with the outer end of said ring abutting the inner end of the flange, the ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of the sleeve and flange, said ring having a recess in the inner end thereof and an annular external groove adjacent the outer end; a seal of relatively hard synthetic rubber bonded in said recess and to the adjacent edge portion of the inner end of said ring, the inner ends of said ring, sleeve and seal being shaped to conform to the external surface of a closure plug against which the inner ends of saidsleeve and 'seal are adapted to sealingly engage; and a second ring of substantially the same thickness as the thickness of said flange and disposed on the outer end portion of the sleeve, the inner end of said second ring being in abutment with the outer end of said flange while the outer end terminates in the same plane as the outer end of said sleeve, said second ring being bonded to the adjacent portions of said sleeve and flange, said second ring having an external groove at the outer external corner thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,357,232 Snyder Aug. 29, 1944 2,599,774 Ohls June 10, 1952 2,605,994 Borchardt Aug. 5, 1952 2,728,551 Blackman Dec. 27, 1955 2,772,848 Holzer Dec. 4, 1956 2,868,497 Graham Ian. 13, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 567,133 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1945 

